Quote Originally Posted by rmteo View Post
You can download the demo version of mikroBASIC for free. It has a very generous limit of 2K of compiled code - enough to do just about any beginner project. Plus you get the advantage of structured programming (true functions and procedures with parameter passing), GLCD, SD/MMC, RS-485, etc. Also, the PICFlash programmer (of your EasyPIC5) is fully integrated and you can also do hardware ICD (in-circuit debugging) - single-stepping, breakpoints, read register values and much more.
I've noticed some of the features offered by microBasic that aren't incorporated in PBP, so I have downloaded the demo version but have only used it to compile the included sample programs. I'm going to add it to my toolbox eventually, but I'd like to get a better grip on PBP first. I've studied a few lessons on Assembly, but the two languages are really too different to confuse me. I figured that if I started trying to learn microBasic before I've mastered PBP then I would just confuse myself due to all the similarities and minor variations between it and PBP. If nothing else, I feel the cost of microBasic is worth it just for the GLCD purposes...

I've packed my brain with WAY too much info on everything I'm trying to learn here lately to start in on mB. PBP has done everything I've needed for the time being, but I still need to reference the manual and certain books when writing code for even simple projects. Once I get it down, I'll jump into mB.

Here's a useful document for comparing and converting code from mB to PBP or vice versa: http://www.mikroe.com/pdf/mikrobasic/migration_path.pdf

It's really just a general overview of the two languages, but it provides a little bit of info regarding the differences between the two...

I have since purchased the PICkit2 from Microchip, but I haven't played around with the ICD capabilities of it yet. I'm working on it, but there's still a LOT more learning I need to do before I'm ready to tackle microBasic and their ICD...

-Adam Collins